Obesity in your Dog
By Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, Chief Veterinarian Officer
Genetics. Hormones. Nutritious, yet calorie-dense diets. An abundance of treats. Insufficient exercise. These are the major factors involved in the development of obesity. Sound familiar? Except this time, we’re not talking about you or your family; we’re talking about your dog.
One of the most delicate discussions a veterinarian may have with a client relates to their dog’s body condition. Clients are often either in denial or unaware of the importance of health issues involved in overweight pets. Research estimates that up to half of all pets in North America fall into the overweight or obese categories. Dogs are considered to be overweight when their body weight is greater than 15% above the ideal and are defined as obese when their body weight is greater than 30% above the ideal. Purina researcher Dottie La Flamme DVM, PhD, designed a nine-point body scoring system that helps owners identify potential weight issues in their pets. The ideal score is one in which a dog’s ribs are easily felt and the waste and tuck-up (the belly area between the rib cage and the rear end) are discernible without being prominent. The dog in ideal condition has a thin layer of fat over the ribs.
Let’s look at a hypothetical case. Mr. Hill brings his dog, Lucky, a seven year-old spayed Labrador Retriever into the veterinary hospital for a check-up. Lucky has problems jumping up onto the couch to watch television with Mr. Hill at night. She eats a premium pet-store brand of dry dog food, and her bowl is left full all the time in the kitchen. She gets to go to the dog park on Saturday, but her pet parent has noticed that she can’t keep up with the other dogs the way she used to. He figures that she’s just “getting old”.
When Lucky was three years-old, she weighed 25 kg (55 lbs). Today she weighs 35 kg (77 lbs). Lucky is clinically obese. Mr. Hill is flabbergasted. The vet tells Mr. Hill she has concerns about Lucky’s health. Like people, overweight pets are prone to joint problems, diabetes, breathing problems, and shortened lifespan. Now is the time to do something really positive for Lucky, and she goes on to explain some of the factors that are contributing to Lucky’s weight issue.
Labrador Retrievers are bred to hunt in cold water for hours at a time. When working to their full genetic potential, they burn lots of calories and still need to maintain some body fat for insulation when retrieving ducks and geese. This breed tends to have a VERY efficient and slow metabolism. Neutered or spayed dogs may also have a decrease in their overall metabolic rate. Being a lab and a spayed female will make it more difficult for Lucky to lose the extra weight that she has gained over the last four years- but not impossible!
Lucky is not a hunting dog. In fact, she spends most of her time napping during the day and watching television on the couch at night with Mr. Hill. She’s a bit bored when nobody else is home, so she will be inclined to wake up from her naps and stroll over to her food bowl for a snack. She likes to eat - after all, she is a Lab. Because Mr. Hill feels badly that she is home alone all day, he tries to make it up to her by feeding her leftovers (only the meat and good stuff, of course) and giving her cookies when she comes into the house after eliminating outside. Unfortunately, he’s so tired by the end of the day; he simply doesn’t have the energy to take her for a walk after supper. Mr. Hill loves Lucky and only wants the best for her, but he has developed some bad habits that have contributed to her becoming obese.
The veterinarian talks to Mr. Hill about how he feeds Lucky. Lucky will actually benefit from having two set meals a day plus one snack (a dog biscuit or some cooked veggies, no butter) in the evening. The vet suggests that her breakfast actually be fed to her divided into a few different smaller meals throughout the house so that she has to “hunt” for her food. The alternative would be to use one of the doggy toys that dispenses kibble one at a time to give her some activity at the same time that she is eating. If she gets bored with the play before she’s finished all of her food, she can always come back to it later. Mr. Hill is going to start feeding Lucky about 3/4 of the amount suggested on the dog food bag, divided into these new set meals. The vet pointed out that the “adult” dog food he buys at the pet store is suitable for “all life stages” which includes puppies. Diets for “all life stages” are foods that may actually be too high in calories for a dog at Lucky’s phase in life. If she doesn’t lose weight at the rate of 0.5-1.0 kg (1-2 lbs) a month, the veterinarian will recommend a specific diet for weight loss and possibly blood tests to look at her internal metabolism.
Mr. Hill is going to start taking Lucky for two short walks a day. The vet suggested once around the block for a few weeks, so that both Mr. Hill and Lucky can get into a routine. The hope is that Mr. Hill will also benefit from the new routine and want to go farther at least three days a week. He wants to try to take her to the dog park at least twice a week now that he sees how important the change will be to Lucky.
After two months, Mr. Hill takes Lucky into the veterinary hospital for her monthly weigh in. Lucky is down to 29 kg. Mr. Hill is so happy and tells the staff that he is amazed at how much more energy she has. He has also noticed that she can jump up more easily these days and doesn’t always finish the food in her treat ball at breakfast. She’s made new friends at the dog park, because now she can keep up with the younger dogs again.
Researchers have documented that obesity may lead to serious health issues for our pets. Loving people can truly kill a dog with kindness by contributing to weight gain through over-feeding and inactivity. A well-defined plan that addresses nutrition, household habits, and exercise will result in great success for dogs and pet parents alike.
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